Police charge former Myer manager Andrew Flanagan with fraud

Steve Butcher

The American businessman recently hired and then sacked by Myer on his first day — after it found he had allegedly falsified his credentials — has been charged by Victorian police with fraud.

Andrew Flanagan was appointed last month by Myer as its group general manager for strategic and business development.

But Mr Flanagan, 46, was dismissed after Myer announced he had falsified his CV and references to get the job.

It was reported that he claimed to have been a former managing director and vice president of a Spanish retailer which owns the international fashion chain Zara.

Both companies later denied they ever employed Mr Flanagan, who was introduced to Myer by recruitment firm Quest International.

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Mr Flanagan appeared on Monday morning in the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a filing hearing on a charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception at Docklands on June 6.

The charge specifies that Mr Flanagan's alleged deception involved "using a resume and providing verbal employment history and references falsely stating he had held a number of senior executive business positions".

Prosecutor Julian Ayres told magistrate Simon Garnett that the accused was charged on July 21.

Mr Ayres asked that an order be made for the lodgement within seven days of exhibits with the police e-crime unit, which included Mr Flanagan's personal computer, three portable hard drives and 27 USB flash drives.

He said the items would be analysed and added that it was not known if they contained any "relevant information".

Mr Garnett ordered that the police brief be served on Mr Flanagan's lawyers, Doogue O'Brien George, whose principal Bill Doogue appeared in court for the hearing.

Mr Flanagan was bailed to appear for a committal mention on October 20 with a condition that he lived permanently at an address in Glen Waverley.